title: Anti-lymphangiogenic properties of mTOR inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma experimental models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor dissemination to cervical lymph nodes via lymphatics represents the first step in the metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and is the most significant predictor of tumor recurrence decreasing survival by 50%. The lymphatic suppressing properties of mTOR inhibitors are not yet well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphatic inhibiting effects of rapamycin were evaluated in vitro using two lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) lines. An orthotopic mouse model of HNSCC (OSC-19 cells) was used to evaluate anti-lymphangiogenic effects of rapamycin in vivo. The incidence of cervical lymph node metastases, numbers of tumor-free lymphatic vessels and those invaded by tumor cells in mouse lingual tissue, and expression of pro-lymphangiogenic markers were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rapamycin significantly decreased lymphatic vascular density (p = 0.027), reduced the fraction of lymphatic vessels invaded by tumor cells in tongue tissue (p = 0.013) and decreased metastasis-positive lymph nodes (p = 0.04). Rapamycin also significantly attenuated the extent of metastatic tumor cell spread within lymph nodes (p < 0.0001). We found that rapamycin significantly reduced LEC proliferation and was correlated with decreased VEGFR-3 expression in both LEC, and in some HNSCC cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrate anti-lymphangiogenic properties of mTOR inhibitors in HNSCC. mTOR inhibitors suppress autocrine and paracrine growth stimulation of tumor and lymphatic endothelial cells by impairing VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 axis and release of soluble VEGFR-2. In a murine HNSCC orthotopic model rapamycin significantly suppressed lymphovascular invasion, decreased cervical lymph node metastasis and delayed the spread of metastatic tumor cells within the lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Oleksandr
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekshyyan
authors.forename: Tara N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Moore-Medlin
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Raley
authors.forename: Kunal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sonavane
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brodt
authors.forename: Fleurette
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abreo
authors.forename: Jonathan Steven
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Cherie-Ann O
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nathan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020123:Sirolimus